"Child, I swear, if you do not behave the House will have no choice but to place you in Counseling. Have you not had enough time there? Perhaps you would enjoy it if that were your new room?"

"N-No. Juvia will behave herself. She promises." Good. This girl had always been a grievance to the White Lily Home. Had the woman known that this girl would cause the amount of issues in the home she would have hunted down the person who dropped Juvia off and given her back. Ever since that fateful morning the Home hadn't seen sunshine. The children teased Juvia and spread a rumor that she herself brought the rain. It would be foolish to think that was true-seeing as it was a rumor of course— but Minerva couldn't help it feel coincidental.

"Well come now. We have some parents coming today and you're the only one who isn't bathed yet. Perhaps this will be the day you leave here." It wasn't unusual for children to be adopted at a later age, but Minerva could not handle one more day with this gloomy girl. Ten years too long.

…

First impressions weren't always everything but if Juvia could pin one word on the man: creepy. The burgundy hair was a weird look to say the least. It was moreso the way he styled his mustache and beard that was offsetting. Adding the hat just enhanced the creepiness factor.

But as he looked over the children surrounding him and begging for his attention one pair of eyes drew his attention. That helplessness and lack of light in her eyes was stunning. And the doll she held that was amateurly handsewn only enhanced the vulnerability she oozed. The man knew that with proper care and motivation, she could be something else.

"Hi there. I'm Jose. What's your name?" He squatted to the girl's level and gave what he figured was a reassuring smile.

"..." Jose frowned at the lack of response and looked around for an assistant. He didn't have to search for much longer as an older woman appeared at the girl's side.

"I apologize, is she giving you trouble?" The upturned lips were meant to be kind, he was sure, but the grip she had on the kid's shoulder and her wince told a different story. Well at least he wouldn't have to work that hard.

"Don't be rude, child. Introduce yourself." His vision refocused on the woman's hand when he noticed her shake the girl's shoulder. Not roughly, but enough to be considered a warning.

"Ah, Juvia's name is Juvia. Nice to meet you Jose-san."

"Let me ask you Juvia, do you like being here?"

Quick and small, but true, Juvia's back straightened the tiniest bit, in turn causing the woman to strengthen her grip. Thank you nonverbal cues.

Jose lifted himself from his squatted position, delivering a polite smile towards the woman. "I would like to speak to Juvia alone."

"O-Oh. Well we actually encourage our staff to not separate from the children. We want to prevent any…" she eyed Juvia, "potential mishaps. Our Juvia here has been known to make some parents feel uncomfortable. I'm sure you understand."

"What I do understand is you interfering with the potential adoption of a child. If I want to speak to her in private I will."

Minerva clenched her teeth and grew a tight smile. Who was this guy? She hadn't seen him in any magazines or on tv. Maybe an internet celebrity? Didn't matter. He acted entitled and that was always a turn off. Not that his sense of style gave him any points.

"Sir I must insist-"

"What's your name?"

"...Pardon?"

"Your name. What is it."

She sighed. Hopefully she wouldn't get in trouble with Mother. "Minerva. Sir, I am sure that we can come to a resolution that suits us both. However the child-"

"Minerva. I couldn't help but notice the way you squeezed Juvia's shoulder. Now maybe I mistook her wincing for happiness or perhaps her obvious stunted speech as a sign of health, but I am never wrong." Jose leaned closer to Minerva. "Whether or not you hit the children here, I am sure they receive some form of punishment that you justify as necessary and humane, but I am not so sure a jury would agree with you. I would hate to bother my friend, Judge Marcarov, for an injunction. I have the time, money, and resources. Do you?"

Oh fuck this guy. "I apologize for the inconvenience, sir. Please let me know if I can be of assistance." Yeah, Minerva was totally going back to bartending. No kid was worth this amount of trouble.

Jose's eyes followed Minerva until she was a reasonable distance away before he turned back to the child in front of him. "Sorry about that. Now, can you tell me if you like it here?"

Little Juvia couldn't stop staring at the man in wonder. He got Miss Minerva to go away! She felt like she could breathe, but just for a moment before she reminded herself that she could receive punishment later. Juvia just needed to give the right answers.

"Yes, Juvia likes it here." Wait, why did Jose-san frown? What did Juvia do wrong?

"Do you really?" At the girl's pause and obvious internal battle, Jose squatted to her level once more. "You don't have to be afraid. I can protect you, but only if you let me."

Teru teru bozu was the only friend that Juvia had for years. He was the only family she could get. That was until Jose-san came along. Maybe he favored honesty. Maybe he was actually trying to help her get out. She could see it now. Jose-san, her beautiful mother— who Juvia imagined was too busy with her work to be able to come— and herself, all holding hands and laughing together. Days at the park, trips to the beach, quiet nights near the fireplace where they could all sew together. Oh it would be perfect!

"Juvia. Answer me. Do you like it here?"

"Ah, Juvia apologizes. She knows that they mean well, but truthfully," Juvia grew shy and began fiddling with the doll, "Juvia would love to be with a family instead. Not that she is ungrateful!"

"I know you aren't. You seem like a special little girl that just wants to be a part of a family. Is that right?" At her nod, he continued. "And my family is full of special people. We help each other and are responsible for one another. I would love for you to join us."

Juvia gasped and couldn't fight the blinding smile on her face even if she wanted to. "Really?! You want Juvia to join your family? You want me?!" In her excitement, Juvia dropped teru teru bozu but Jose picked it up and handed it back.

"Who wouldn't?"

...

The sharp whistle of the teapot brought Juvia back to reality. Wow, she hadn't thought of that in years. In her naive eight year old mind, she truly believed that Jose was saving her and bringing her to a loving family. Juvia got up from her couch and tended to the kettle. One would suspect that Juvia, the florist, would use herbal teas and harvest them herself— which was a fair assumption— but no. Said woman was dead tired and chose to stick with the store-bought chamomile. Moving on.

Juvia busied herself with the cup and wandered around her flat. With the place she lived it definitely didn't look like she was suffering for money. Which was true. Jose had gotten her the apartment in a nice building overlooking Magnolia. Independence was something that Juvia was no stranger to and she would have preferred to get her place by her means. However, 17 year old her stupidly thought that Jose wanted to do right by her, but she knew better by now.

The loft itself was nice. Rent was affordable considering the building's location and she was lucky that it hadn't gone up. With her business beginning to soar, Juvia could afford to put a majority of her earnings into her savings so if there were ever any need to pick up and leave, she wouldn't have to worry about much.

"Raindrop! Open up I'm starving!" And there was Gajeel banging his fist against her door. As she made her way to answer she reminded herself to warn him about her neighbors who often threatened with noise complaints. Knowing Gajeel, he would just threaten to bite their heads off but Juvia knew how big of a softie he really was.

She pulled open the door and there he was, chewing on some jerky. "Gajeel-kun does realize he is going to have to shop for groceries one of these days?"

"Gee-hee. Why do that when I've got you?"

I don't know, bro. I've had the outline done for at least two months but it was just fleshing it out and actually writing it that killed me. AND HAVE YOU GUYS SEEN THE RECENT CHAPTERS OF FT? I honestly just log on to tumblr to check if my babes have gotten any development/ moments, freak the fuck out, and then log off. Anyways! Sorry for taking a bit to post this. I decided to create a part two of this since I didn't want you guys to wait for too long. Hopefully it won't be that long of a wait. I just have a bad record of not finishing any story so I'm hoping that this one can break the streak?